“That Oriental man,” was how my Grandmother
referred to our waiter.
“Nana, that’s kind of a
politically incorrect term,” I had to tell her. “Most people use the
word ‘Asian’ now.” For someone who had
been around the world and back, she was extremely shocked. She had absolutely no
idea.
I
explained to her that Oriental was nowadays used to refer to rugs or decorative
artistic pieces, and only sometimes food. I also explained where the term came
from, which she found the most interesting, but also the most eye opening.
Oriental is a term that has never accurately described a race, or group of
people native to Asia. Instead, it describes the manufactured idea of what the
countries, which fell outside of continental Europe, were, created by Europeans
who often exploited them.
The
Orange Chicken I love to eat at the food court staple Panda Express, is not a
product of true Chinese Cuisine, but rather a reflection of what American
people like, and also want to believe is authentic Chinese Cuisine. I’ve learned about
true Chinese Cuisine and let me tell you, there is not orange chicken in sight.
The Chinese vases and paintings of the East, are in a similar way a false
depiction of the culture they seek to represent, but more so a reflection of
the culture, which has a want for them.
We
learned that in China, many Aesthetics had objects in their homes like vases,
and jars with blue glaze painting, that were simply manufactured to be exported
out of the country, or for tourists to purchase. This system is still alive and
well today. I remember being in India near the Taj Mahal and every single
vendor wanted to sell me something made out of marble. “The Same Real
Marble Used in the Taj Mahal,” many shouted. I
bought a tiny jewelry holder, and paid a respectful amount for it, and still
today, I look at it and I’m not even sure if
it is marble! However the experience of being able to buy a small piece of
marble near the majestic Taj Mahal made me feel truly special, and I still use
that jewelry dish to this day.
That’s what I mean by
the object being a reflection of the culture that purchased it. Not the one
that bought it. It is a true reflection
of the people who had a particular taste for Oriental rooms and china vases. These
objects are their idea of “The East” manifested into the
decorative arts. If you divorce the idea of being culturally accurate, from
being aesthetically pleasing, you’re
left with Orientalism- a funny term that captures a certain style of art that
Europeans have preferred to decorate their homes and gallery walls with for a tremendously
long period of time.
Links
to Images:
DG
R, Monna Rosa, 1862
R, Monna Rosa, 1862
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